Making a Green Sojourn

chillibreeze writer — Sneha Bhat

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Jute laundry bags, bathroom slippers made of reed, soy ink pens…do these ring a bell? You will not find them at your shopping mall; these are unique inventions by hotels that have embarked upon the eco-friendly path.

A wave of environmental consciousness has taken over the world and there is a prominent change in attitudes, opinions and actions. Following an example set by other industries, many hotels across the globe are making commendable efforts to go ‘green’.

Eco-friendly hotels that started off as a trend, have now become a social responsibility and the need of the hour. The objective of these hotels is to promote energy-efficiency, water conservation, waste management, and recycling.

Walking on eco-friendly grounds:
Eco-tourism is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism/hospitality industry. Eco-tourism aims at flaunting your culture without destroying nature in the process. Its success lies in the fact that it can accommodate a large number of tourists and yet not affect the environment adversely.

Many hotels have started conducting interesting eco-tours for their guests, thereby making them part of a good cause. By encouraging travelers to behave in an environmentally-conscious way, these eco-friendly hotels take small steps towards conserving the earth’s natural resources.

With a boom in the eco-tourism industry world-wide, travelers have started to expect and demand environmentally friendly services and becoming more aware of the ecological footprint they leave behind. Hoteliers are also realizing the damage being caused to the environment due to carelessness, apathy, and lack of responsibility.

Mindful conservation of water and electricity tops the ‘to-do’ list of most eco-hotels. They put together special management teams that are responsible for ensuring eco-friendly practices that are cost-effective as well. Eco-hotels follow the rule of ‘reducing, recycling and re-using’ in their daily operations and practices.

Hampering with the environment only counteracts the basic aim of tourism and hospitality. The motto behind the ‘go green’ campaign is to minimize the impact on the environment. Hotels that actively participate in this initiative of conservation and preservation positively influence employees and guests. These hotels also open up new vistas in the global economic market. Green hotels succeed in attracting travelers who want to contribute to the ecological cause.

The road less traveled:
Energy usage is extremely high in hotels, as they operate 24/7. Electricity and water is continuously supplied even when the room is not in use. Adopting environmentally-safe products is a simple and smart way for hotels to set off on their eco-friendly journey. Some eco-hotels have set up in-house recycling bins in individual rooms, which call for active participation from the guests. Replacing the lights with energy-saving Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) can save up to 70% energy on a daily basis.

Eco-hotels have also started using recycled paper for stationery. Similarly, the concept of towel/linen reuse is catching up in many hotels. Environmentally friendly cleaning solutions reduce water pollution and the use of low-flow showers can save water. These ‘green’ accommodations not only help in severe cost-cutting, but also do a world of good for social responsibility.

Some Examples:
The Kimpton’s Muse Hotel in New provides hybrid car incentives for their guests. The Orchard Garden in San Francisco uses natural paints, carpets, and CFLs to reduce energy consumption. The housekeeping staff at the hotel also uses non-chemical cleansers for cleaning and maintenance chores.

The Orchid Group of Hotels, India’s first chain of eco-hotels incorporates environment education and training for their staff members. They help in spreading awareness and their commitment to the cause is evident. The electricity at the Tiamo Resort in the Bahamas is generated from 100% alternative energy from their electricity-generating system. The Tanjung Sanctuary Hotel in Malaysia is apt for travelers interested in a region’s natural wealth. The hotel’s activities and design promote sustainable tourism and provide a nice insight into the region’s flora and fauna.

Hotels are the backbone of the tourism industry, thus eco-tourism and eco-hotels complement each other. Traveling the world is what most people dream of, but turning this dream into a reality by abusing nature is not very cool. Hotels and resorts are therefore increasingly altering their approach to tourism, by going the green.

So the next time you travel, travel green. And remember, traveling green does not mean you have to go around hugging trees! Making a simple choice of staying at an eco-friendly hotel goes a long way.

Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in December, 2009. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.

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Related links:

Green Hotels and Green Tourists
A Short Primer on Eco Tourism
Bangalore: how it became Green
Green Belt Movement: Environmental Conservation in Africa
A Guide for Green Investing

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—About our writer: Sneha says, "A Mumbai-based freelance writer and editor, I have completed my post graduation in Sociology from Mumbai University. Owing to my passion and enthusiasm for languages, I found myself in language editing and content writing in the past two years. My professional experience has been mainly in creative content writing. Currently, I am a Research Intern with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. My other areas of interest include art, music, French, yoga, cooking, film, travel and photography. My dream job is to work with Discovery Travel & Living!"

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